This. And even then it has to be said that this is based on 2 clay tournaments last year, one of which (Madrid) has very bad conditions for Nadal anyway. So far even Novak has not managed to take more than one set off Nadal at RG. Only Soderling and Isner have taken 2 or more in a match.
Novak has the best shot by far but if it's Nadal at his best then no one has a chance at RG. There are Novak fans who seem to think Nole 2.0 could have beaten Nadal in 2008 at RG - no chance - that was the best player on clay ever playing at his very best - no one was getting 3 sets.
Outside the top 4 you have to think it's Del Po and no one else really. Ferrer is not as effective vs Nadal on clay - he could get a set but not 3. Isner potentially but think Nadal would have learnt from last year... Nadal needs to just make sure he stays in the top 2 till RG so he can't meet Novak before the final.
There was a time when Federer was unbeatable at Wimbledon. And guess what? In the next couple of years he lost to Nadal, Berdych and Tsonga.
Nadal is probably the greatest claycourter of all time but it doesn't mean he'll be winning RG forever, some day Rafa's going to lose to somebody not named Soderling.
And it can as well happen this year, why not?
Did somebody expect Federer to lose against Berdych after such a promising start of 2010?
IF Mr. Nadal is not at his best (for whatever reason), and if Robin Soderling is healthy and match fit, he and Mr. Isner are the biggest threat.
Soderling is the only player to defeat Mr. Nadal at Roland Garros. Enough said.
Mr. Isner in 2011 became the only player who has ever taken Mr. Nadal to 5 sets, and Mr. Isner has since improved his play. If he can sustain that improvement and play similarly to his Davis Cup performances and serve well and keep the points short, he can win in less than 5 sets.
Mr. Del Potro has an outside chance.
Mr. Monfils with the match of his life and avoiding Mr. Federer.
The sample of one particular match is too small to draw conclusions about Isner's chances against Nadal.
Besides, Isner was never close to win this match.
Closer than Fed thats for sure. Also before you come up with your shot at Monfils just remember he is the only guy to beat Fed indoors in the last 14 months.
Del Potro.
He has to be on his game and if Nadal isn't at his best it'll be trouble for Nadal.
It's not just DelPo's game.
The mental outlook is most important in these kind of matches, if he gets his chances he won't back down at all and never had any fear of closing out the match no matter who he plays.
He's shown that on the biggest of stages.
DelPo's fitness ain't good enough to withstand Nadal for more than 2-3 sets so the only way to victory leads through straights sets which is very unlikely/impossible to happen.
Winning for a seventh time at a slam is really difficult. Sampras is the only male player to do this in the open era.
If you search for articles of 2000, this is what it says:
2000 Wimbledon Final: Pete Sampras defeats Pat Rafter
One year earlier, Sampras had beaten his archrival Agassi in final, and equalled Emerson’s record of 12 Grand Slam singles titles. He was expected to break the record in front of the US crowd, but had to withdraw just a few days before the 99 Us Open due to a back injury. Beaten in the semifinals of the 00′ Oz Open and in the first round of Roland Garros, Sampras entered Wimbledon injured (shin inflammation).
Had this been any other tournament, Sampras said following the final, he would have pulled out. But Wimbledon is not just another tournament and instead he decided to skip practice sessions. And it proved to be a good decision as he benefited from an easy draw. Before the final, the highest-ranked player Sampras faced was No. 56,
Jan-Michael Gambill. His opponents were in succession Jiri Novak, Karol Kucera, Justin Gimelstob, Jonas Bjorkman, Jan Michael Gambill, Vladimir Voltchkov and the popular Aussie Pat Rafter in the final.
It will be very hard for Nadal. The draw will be very important.
haase is such a moron . I knew it few years back when i saw him for the first time and all these years he is just proving that . screwed face also, maybe few punches could help
Clearly Rafa struggles vs. guys like Delpo and Isner, who can serve through the court, volley, and keep the rallies under 6 shots.
1. Isner serve
2. Rafa return
3. Isner forehand and close the net
4. Rafa passing shot
5. Isner volley
Rinse and repeat x 200.
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